The names and pronouns have been changed, but the story and characters will remain the same for the Burroughs High School Drama Department’s production of William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.” This production of the classic tragedy will have females in the roles traditionally reserved for male actors.

These will not be women dressed as men, but the females as the lead players, females in female roles.

The cast is not gender specific — males will play the roles of the women in the play.

BHS drama teacher Tristan Kratz said that in this modern world, women are starting to portray the roles that have been dominated by males for eons, such as business leaders and elected officials, and the time was right for a display of female power on the stage.

The four principals in the play talked about the challenges of steping into shoes, and lifting the swords usually hefted by men. They described that some of the struggles were physical, such as holding a sword in an intimidating way, but they said the emotions of greed, naiveté and pride that are central to the play are also universal between the sexes.

Madi Freese, playing Marc Antonia (Antony), said the play has “women being portrayed in a powerful light.” She described the “brotherhood” of the play, the strong relationships between the characters, has been turned into a sisterhood. For example, the characters are all asked what Rome means to them, what is Rome, and what would they be willing to die for. The female players all answered in chorus that “love” would be their reason. Kratz said this isn’t the answer she would have expected or heard from male actors.

This production is so unique in putting females in roles of great power, including Alyxandrya Browne as Bruta (Brutus) and Katia Mondragon as Cassia (Cassius), the actors said they didn’t have many role models or mentors to look up to. Sierra Rindt, playing Julia (Julius) Caesar, said it’s hard to find a woman who is so powerful and charismatic today. Freese said she hadn’t thought about too it much and is building her character from the ground up.

Kratz explained that actors pull from their own life experiences and “internal realm” when getting into the role of a character. She said she hoped her students did not have personal experiences of murder and betrayal to draw from when developing their characters, and looked outside themselves for inspiration or guidance. Kratz said the actors have worked hard to make the characters their own.

This is what will make the production so different; the emotions, plots, internally and externally, have been interpreted from a female point of view. Kratz said the women had to imagine a situation where they would be facing the same predicaments and choices and how they would react.

Page 2 of 3 - Browne said as more women gain power in today’s society, the more stories there are of women acting out aggressively and violently. Freese said she couldn’t foresee a situation like the one facing the Romans in the play without men being involved.

Kratz said that women are coming into their own and can handle and even perpetuate a scene like the one Caesar has created.

“If, in 2014, the concept that women are in power, and capable of everything and anything men can, creates a controversy, all I can say to that is, ‘You better get used to it,’” Kratz stated. “Women have always had the capacity; whether or not they have been given equal resources and opportunities to actualize their potential and power is something altogether different.”

The female leads agreed that men do not have a monopoly on pride or aggression.

Mondragon explained the roles being played by females is a new twist on a story most everyone is familiar with. It is a classic Shakespearian tragedy with hubris and naiveté taking the reins of actions. The memorable scene of Caesar’s friends killing him, even one of his closest confidants — “Et tu, Brute?” — is the result of Bruta and Cassia believing Caesar has grown too powerful. After the death the conspirators discover Caesar had plans of spreading his wealth amongst all the citizens of Rome. Browne said she doesn’t necessarily consider Bruta to be gullible, but rather blinded by a sense of honor toward what he thinks Rome is. Bruta has to ask herself and act upon the questions, “What is Rome and what is she willing to die for and what should Rome be?”

“Before an audience even walks into the theatre, they know these characters and they know how the story is going to end,” Kratz stated. “The challenge for the cast and crew is make people want to experience these stories again; to discover more about the play. This process always requires the asking of big questions and the delving into the subtle intricacies that result in human beings creating their stories. The glorious and deeply rewarding aspect of Shakespeare is that his fascination and depictions of the human condition is still relevant.”

Browne said females are apt to show more emotion, and these too will make the play a different creature than with men playing the roles. Mondragon said women are more empathetic and sympathetic, and these feelings will come out in their performances. Rindt said she believes men can be driven by having to be and act strong, while women are not afraid to show emotion, even vulnerability. The actors also agreed that it is much more socially acceptable for women to show emotion toward each other in public than men are.

Page 3 of 3 - Kratz explained there are some other particular reasons for choosing an all female cast. For one, there is a preponderance of female performers that try out for productions – a 5:1 ratio of women to men.

“To constantly turn away so many talented and interested members of our student body is not only bad business; keep turning so many valuable stakeholders away, eventually they will come to the conclusion that they are neither wanted or have anything of importance to offer the program, and they will quit investing — this is not the message I ever want to send out — but also limits the potential of any production selected to be produced,” Kratz told the high school newspaper.

Kratz said there is also a moral obligation to put females into more roles — they do constitute half of the human population, yet do not get equal billing compared to their male counterparts.

“In selecting Julius Caesar, the opportunity existed to allow young women to explore, as women (the actors are not women portraying men; they are women playing women in these roles; the same for the men — they are not emasculated, but rather presenting men in partnership with powerful women) themes of power, loyalty, betrayal and national/communal identity in a very real, mature and profound context.”

Kratz said she has high expectations of the production and is confident both the audience and actors will have more than an entertaining time but will learn something. If nothing else, it should become apparent that the BHS Drama Department has put its heart and soul into the production and guarantee to present something no one has ever seen before from a play written in 1599.

Performances are Friday and Saturday, April 11,12,18 and 19, 2014. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with curtain rising at 7. Pre-sale tickets are available at Red Rock Books for $10, or $12 at the box office. For more information contact Tristan Kratz tkratz@ssusd.org or 760-499-1800 ex. 4107.